Over the past 60 years,
there's been a massive decline
00:00:08.60\00:00:11.07
in foreign missions.
00:00:11.11\00:00:12.44
I'm sharing the gospel
through church planting.
00:00:15.48\00:00:19.15
In 1930s, if
somebody gave $10 in tithe,
00:00:19.18\00:00:22.02
they'd given additional
$6 in foreign missions.
00:00:22.05\00:00:24.79
Today, just $0.28.
00:00:24.82\00:00:27.59
We're doing the best
we can with what we have,
00:00:27.62\00:00:29.92
but I'm still not satisfied.
00:00:29.96\00:00:31.56
Over 2 billion
people in the world today
00:00:31.59\00:00:33.80
still have no
access to the gospel.
00:00:33.83\00:00:36.00
God's crazy in love
with the Thai people,
00:00:36.03\00:00:38.37
and I sense His Spirit
hovering over the city.
00:00:38.40\00:00:41.04
I've come to Bangkok,
Thailand to discover the truth
00:00:41.07\00:00:43.81
about foreign missions.
00:00:43.84\00:00:45.47
Come with me as I follow my
good friend Pastor Doug Venn
00:00:45.51\00:00:48.18
in his everyday life
as a frontline missionary.
00:00:48.21\00:00:51.05
I prayed for
God's biggest dream,
00:00:51.08\00:00:52.88
and He gave me
this city of 12 million.
00:00:52.91\00:00:57.09
Welcome to my world.
00:00:57.12\00:00:58.49
We're here at the, at
one of the Bangkok churches
00:01:11.13\00:01:13.64
and preparation for
this week of evangelism.
00:01:13.67\00:01:17.77
And so all week long,
our student missionary team
00:01:17.81\00:01:20.31
working with this
church has been working hard
00:01:20.34\00:01:24.11
to set up the set as well as
00:01:24.15\00:01:27.05
and getting the challenges
of the technical stuff.
00:01:27.08\00:01:31.32
My student missionary
Andrew just reported to me
00:01:31.35\00:01:34.29
that we've got challenges
with audio, with the video,
00:01:34.32\00:01:37.89
and with all these other things.
00:01:37.93\00:01:39.53
And so this morning
we had a chance to pray
00:01:39.56\00:01:42.96
and to, you know,
00:01:43.00\00:01:44.40
try to seek God
for the solutions
00:01:44.43\00:01:46.80
because right now...
00:01:46.84\00:01:50.34
He's telling me that
we can't, we can't do it.
00:01:50.37\00:01:53.78
This evangelistic series
is one of several planned
00:01:53.81\00:01:56.38
to be held in different places
around the city simultaneously.
00:01:56.41\00:01:59.78
We have to use this other,
00:01:59.81\00:02:02.02
because similar pipe won't work.
00:02:02.05\00:02:04.09
At this location, the
message will be translated
00:02:04.12\00:02:06.65
into the Karen
language to benefit
00:02:06.69\00:02:08.46
the minority people
group known as the Karen,
00:02:08.49\00:02:10.86
whose homeland is in Burma.
00:02:10.89\00:02:12.76
Our list of things to fix.
00:02:12.79\00:02:14.93
We are still working on audio.
00:02:14.96\00:02:18.00
The composition,
I'll work them all,
00:02:18.03\00:02:21.00
speakers are gone and
then what else was there?
00:02:21.04\00:02:24.34
We got the books for
Shannon, we've got...
00:02:24.37\00:02:29.04
You wanted to move the cameras.
00:02:29.08\00:02:30.85
Okay, so both of
them, okay, they are there.
00:02:30.88\00:02:32.98
Then the other
thing is that you wanted,
00:02:33.01\00:02:35.08
perhaps we might need tape.
00:02:35.12\00:02:37.72
Yeah, are we
using videotape? Yeah.
00:02:37.75\00:02:40.29
Okay, so it might be
helpful to have some videotape.
00:02:40.32\00:02:43.22
So we need to go now.
00:02:43.26\00:02:45.76
Hey, what's there, looks like?
00:02:45.79\00:02:47.40
Yeah, those are the
wheels that I brought over here.
00:02:47.43\00:02:50.30
No, I'll take that little one
00:02:50.33\00:02:51.73
and fit into car.
00:02:51.77\00:02:55.90
Well, we're on a
road to go and try to work
00:02:55.94\00:02:58.47
some technical challenges out.
00:02:58.51\00:03:01.78
I've been told by
some of our Thai leaders
00:03:01.81\00:03:03.85
that our city here
it's been over 30 years,
00:03:03.88\00:03:07.72
since we've had
kind of this city wide
00:03:07.75\00:03:12.25
evangelistic thrust.
00:03:12.29\00:03:14.56
And it's because of the fact
00:03:14.59\00:03:16.79
that we're in a Buddhist country
00:03:16.83\00:03:19.29
that these, the
normal kind of methods
00:03:19.33\00:03:25.60
of using a
public reaping meeting
00:03:25.63\00:03:28.14
or a public
evangelistic meeting,
00:03:28.17\00:03:31.01
although they have their place,
00:03:31.04\00:03:33.21
they're not
affective in reaching people
00:03:33.24\00:03:37.81
who don't even
know who Jesus is.
00:03:37.85\00:03:41.12
So let alone.
00:03:41.15\00:03:43.39
You know, talking
about what He's doing now,
00:03:43.42\00:03:46.29
the fact He's coming back
and all the hope that He, that,
00:03:46.32\00:03:50.43
you know, we as Christians have.
00:03:50.46\00:03:52.83
For a Buddhist
to even understand
00:03:52.86\00:03:55.86
what we're talking
about, that is just,
00:03:55.90\00:03:58.70
they don't even
have the same vocabulary.
00:03:58.73\00:04:01.90
When we describe
words like sin or merit,
00:04:01.94\00:04:06.54
or salvation, these terms are...
00:04:06.57\00:04:12.65
They come from a worldview
that is completely different
00:04:12.68\00:04:15.88
than the Christian worldview.
00:04:15.92\00:04:18.52
And so as a
result, they may walk away
00:04:18.55\00:04:21.26
from a presentation
of a Bible teaching,
00:04:21.29\00:04:24.56
that is, you
know, we as a presenter
00:04:24.59\00:04:29.20
or we as a communicators,
00:04:29.23\00:04:31.10
may think that we
have communicated clearly
00:04:31.13\00:04:34.54
but in reality,
00:04:34.57\00:04:38.77
they have just been reinforced
in their work spaced faith.
00:04:38.81\00:04:45.21
It's like trying to
explain snow to them.
00:04:45.25\00:04:48.75
You know, snow is
cold and snow falls down
00:04:48.78\00:04:53.89
from the sky,
00:04:53.92\00:04:55.26
these are all
intellectual concepts
00:04:55.29\00:04:57.43
for the Thais, where...
00:04:57.46\00:05:01.13
You know, what does it
feel like to pick up snow
00:05:01.16\00:05:04.23
to taste it and then
to pack it into a ball
00:05:04.27\00:05:08.87
and then to throw it
00:05:08.90\00:05:10.34
or to have that
impact on your face?
00:05:10.37\00:05:13.17
You know, these are
intellectual concepts
00:05:13.21\00:05:15.78
that those hear...
00:05:15.81\00:05:18.95
In this part of the world,
00:05:18.98\00:05:22.02
they understand
00:05:22.05\00:05:26.19
but they have no
experience, no reference point.
00:05:26.22\00:05:29.19
And so it is with Christianity
when trying to explain
00:05:29.22\00:05:31.69
that to them, is that,
they have no reference point.
00:05:31.73\00:05:35.93
It's like we're speaking an
alien language to the Thais.
00:05:35.96\00:05:41.74
And that's one...
00:05:41.77\00:05:43.10
A lot of people
don't understand that,
00:05:43.14\00:05:44.84
that to even take
00:05:44.87\00:05:48.68
a simple concept of,
00:05:48.71\00:05:53.11
let's say forgiveness.
00:05:53.15\00:05:54.82
The Bible says
that, "Though your sins be
00:05:54.85\00:05:56.85
as scarlet and they
shall be as white as wool."
00:05:56.89\00:05:59.82
It'd be...
00:05:59.85\00:06:01.56
red like crimson,
they shall be as snow.
00:06:01.59\00:06:08.20
This reference
point of snow, they have,
00:06:08.23\00:06:14.37
it's never
snowed here in Thailand.
00:06:14.40\00:06:16.71
And so that alone makes
communicating the gospel
00:06:16.74\00:06:22.81
a challenge that we
have to be able to overcome.
00:06:22.84\00:06:26.58
And this is one reason why,
you know, sometimes, you know,
00:06:26.61\00:06:32.65
what do you
say, what do you say?
00:06:32.69\00:06:34.52
And that's
where I've tried to be
00:06:34.56\00:06:35.89
really like a student of
the culture and, you know,
00:06:35.92\00:06:39.66
encouraged the
church planters here to,
00:06:39.69\00:06:41.70
you know, listen and
to read their culture
00:06:41.73\00:06:45.40
and read what's, you
know, what's going on society
00:06:45.43\00:06:48.70
and history and
literature, so that way
00:06:48.74\00:06:51.24
they can appropriately
communicate the essence
00:06:51.27\00:06:56.61
and the meaning of the
Gospel in ways that the Thais
00:06:56.64\00:06:59.55
or their
audience will understand.
00:06:59.58\00:07:02.88
And are we doing a
good job with that?
00:07:02.92\00:07:07.16
I don't know.
00:07:07.19\00:07:08.52
I...
00:07:08.56\00:07:10.83
I pray and I know that
God's Spirit is working
00:07:10.86\00:07:14.36
across the city and that we do
the best we can for His glory.
00:07:14.40\00:07:20.44
I love how you set up the set.
00:07:26.47\00:07:28.01
So it's a good job.
00:07:28.04\00:07:29.48
That was him too.
That was both of us.
00:07:29.51\00:07:31.51
Okay. You did good job.
00:07:31.55\00:07:32.91
When I took you up
to Baiyoke Sky Tower
00:07:32.95\00:07:35.88
and you had a chance to
see how big the city is.
00:07:35.92\00:07:40.56
What were you feelings?
00:07:40.59\00:07:42.69
How immense the city is?
00:07:42.72\00:07:44.53
Yeah. It's huge.
00:07:44.56\00:07:47.86
Nearly 12 million
people live in Bangkok,
00:07:47.90\00:07:51.13
but what does that mean?
00:07:51.17\00:07:53.40
How do you wrap your
mind around a number that big?
00:07:53.44\00:07:56.81
Think of it this way.
00:07:56.84\00:07:58.17
If the 1200
Adventists that live in Bangkok
00:07:58.21\00:08:00.91
were to share the Gospel
with one new person every day,
00:08:00.94\00:08:04.75
he would take nearly 30 years
to reach everyone in the city.
00:08:04.78\00:08:09.85
This is just one city.
00:08:09.88\00:08:11.75
This is one city, its odd city.
00:08:11.79\00:08:14.42
I mean, it's not
your adopted city
00:08:14.46\00:08:16.22
for this time that you're here.
00:08:16.26\00:08:18.13
But to share the
gospel here, you know,
00:08:18.16\00:08:21.96
there are many
Christians around the world
00:08:22.00\00:08:24.20
who think that
everyone knows Jesus.
00:08:24.23\00:08:26.97
They've had a chance to hear
the truths of these last days,
00:08:27.00\00:08:31.11
that he had a
chance to meet Jesus,
00:08:31.14\00:08:32.97
they've had a
chance to know the Bible
00:08:33.01\00:08:35.51
and they just have rejected Him.
00:08:35.54\00:08:39.15
But what we're
facing here in Bangkok
00:08:39.18\00:08:42.72
is not that, that's not reality,
00:08:42.75\00:08:48.69
that's not
reality here in Bangkok.
00:08:48.72\00:08:51.06
So, because, how
many people did you see
00:08:51.09\00:08:52.86
at church yesterday?
00:08:52.89\00:08:54.96
Like 40. 40?
00:08:55.00\00:08:56.56
That's cool because that is cool
00:08:56.60\00:08:58.53
'cause that's a
neighborhood church time
00:08:58.57\00:09:01.00
and those 40 people
aren't driving an hour,
00:09:01.04\00:09:04.27
they're walking to church.
00:09:04.31\00:09:05.64
And did you, did
you guys get a chance
00:09:05.67\00:09:07.18
to go to someone's house?
00:09:07.21\00:09:09.14
We dropped a couple of
kids off when we're home,
00:09:09.18\00:09:10.75
but they are really in the way.
00:09:10.78\00:09:12.11
All right, yeah,
you dropped them off.
00:09:12.15\00:09:13.48
You just walked.
00:09:13.52\00:09:14.85
And see that's the
whole point is that,
00:09:14.88\00:09:16.22
these church plants
are being neighborhood
00:09:16.25\00:09:17.85
and community based.
00:09:17.89\00:09:19.55
And so it is that
kind of saturation
00:09:19.59\00:09:23.02
that we're wanting to
do all across the city.
00:09:23.06\00:09:27.03
But many people say, we're done.
00:09:27.06\00:09:31.23
There's 4,000, just
to give you a reference.
00:09:31.27\00:09:33.84
There's over 4,000,
7 Elevens in the city.
00:09:33.87\00:09:36.84
Basically,
there's either FamilyMart
00:09:36.87\00:09:38.71
or 7 Eleven on every corner.
00:09:38.74\00:09:41.38
Right? Yeah.
00:09:41.41\00:09:42.88
Okay, but so our dream is
to have that many church plants
00:09:42.91\00:09:46.78
or that kind of
saturation across the city.
00:09:46.82\00:09:48.92
It's a whole lot.
00:09:48.95\00:09:50.29
Do we have, how
many in America though?
00:09:50.32\00:09:52.25
That's a good question.
00:09:52.29\00:09:54.29
So in the Conference
that I previously served,
00:09:54.32\00:09:56.52
there was a 100 and that covers
all parts of three states,
00:09:56.56\00:10:00.60
Eastern
Washington, Northern Idaho,
00:10:00.63\00:10:02.80
and the
northeast corner of Oregon.
00:10:02.83\00:10:05.60
But even in those
places, the number two
00:10:05.63\00:10:07.70
is not largest city
in Washington State.
00:10:07.74\00:10:10.77
Spokane only had 10,
approximately 10 churches
00:10:10.81\00:10:14.78
in the metro area
00:10:14.81\00:10:16.14
and that's a city
of half a million.
00:10:16.18\00:10:17.51
Wow!
00:10:17.55\00:10:19.18
So here we have
seven established churches,
00:10:19.21\00:10:22.55
22 church plants in
a city of 12 million.
00:10:22.58\00:10:26.59
So is the job done?
00:10:26.62\00:10:28.46
Definitely not.
00:10:28.49\00:10:30.39
What are you eating?
00:10:30.43\00:10:31.76
Oh, I have no idea what this is
00:10:31.79\00:10:33.19
but it's like an
onion with a Kiwi inside.
00:10:33.23\00:10:36.53
So it tastes like a onion?
00:10:36.56\00:10:37.90
No, no, no, it
tastes like a kiwi.
00:10:37.93\00:10:40.14
I was just gonna say. Yeah.
00:10:40.17\00:10:41.50
So...
00:10:41.54\00:10:42.87
But it looks like
an onion, isn't that?
00:10:42.90\00:10:44.24
Do you wanna... Do
you wanna know what it is?
00:10:44.27\00:10:45.61
Yeah.
00:10:45.64\00:10:46.98
This here is
called Dragon Fruit.
00:10:47.01\00:10:48.64
Really? And it
comes from a cactus.
00:10:48.68\00:10:51.55
You know, beside the road.
00:10:51.58\00:10:52.91
Yeah, and it's really delicious.
00:10:52.95\00:10:56.22
This here... That
looks pretty good.
00:10:56.25\00:10:58.12
This here is
what they call guava.
00:10:58.15\00:11:01.69
That's guava? Yeah.
00:11:01.72\00:11:03.19
This is guava.
00:11:03.22\00:11:05.36
They call this farang or,
because it's white inside.
00:11:05.39\00:11:11.53
I had that in Mexico
00:11:11.57\00:11:12.90
and it tasted
completely different.
00:11:12.93\00:11:14.27
Yeah, it's a different variety.
00:11:14.30\00:11:16.17
Nicole, I just wanted to
ask you a question of that,
00:11:16.20\00:11:18.44
you know, you were
saying earlier that...
00:11:18.47\00:11:23.58
What was she saying earlier?
00:11:23.61\00:11:25.75
Why are you here in Thailand?
00:11:25.78\00:11:30.35
Yeah, why are you
here? Why did you come?
00:11:30.39\00:11:32.09
Why did I come?
00:11:32.12\00:11:33.46
'Cause I was called
here, I'm supposed to be here.
00:11:33.49\00:11:35.06
That's right. Yeah.
00:11:35.09\00:11:36.42
Right.
00:11:36.46\00:11:37.79
I know there is a
reason that God wants me here,
00:11:37.83\00:11:39.36
so His work must not
be done with Thailand yet.
00:11:39.39\00:11:41.00
Yeah, right.
00:11:41.03\00:11:42.36
But see this is
the problem, is that,
00:11:42.40\00:11:44.13
many people think in missions
that we're done, that we have,
00:11:44.17\00:11:48.34
you know, a couple,
you know, a satellite,
00:11:48.37\00:11:50.14
TV station or TV programs
that are going around with,
00:11:50.17\00:11:54.44
you know, sermons in
English all around the world.
00:11:54.48\00:11:57.35
I can remember
one student missionary
00:11:57.38\00:11:58.88
came to Bangkok
and they were surprised
00:11:58.91\00:12:01.22
that no one spoke English.
00:12:01.25\00:12:03.39
Really? Yeah.
00:12:03.42\00:12:04.75
Because they got off the
plane and they said to me that,
00:12:04.79\00:12:09.19
"You know, you know,
Pastor Doug, you know,
00:12:09.22\00:12:11.73
I came here to serve
00:12:11.76\00:12:13.09
and how come people
don't speak English here?"
00:12:13.13\00:12:16.40
And they were just, you
know, part in that culture...
00:12:16.43\00:12:18.53
Shocked that they
have their own language.
00:12:18.57\00:12:20.17
That's right, that's right,
and, or this assumption that,
00:12:20.20\00:12:23.17
you know, we are
that, the entire world is,
00:12:23.20\00:12:28.54
thinks that they are
weak or how we think,
00:12:28.58\00:12:31.11
they speak how we
speak, they dress how we dress,
00:12:31.15\00:12:34.35
they eat how we eat,
and all these things.
00:12:34.38\00:12:36.72
But this is where, as
you're experiencing that,
00:12:36.75\00:12:41.32
that's not the case.
00:12:41.36\00:12:42.89
And so thus and
communicating the Gospel,
00:12:42.92\00:12:45.36
we also have to then, you know,
00:12:45.39\00:12:48.66
find ways that will
connect to the people here.
00:12:48.70\00:12:51.27
How much did you
raise to come here?
00:12:51.30\00:12:54.40
I raised about, about $2,000.
00:12:54.44\00:12:57.94
Okay. All right.
00:12:57.97\00:12:59.31
And so by God's
grace you'll be with us
00:12:59.34\00:13:01.04
at least six months to...
00:13:01.08\00:13:02.91
Yeah, yeah. Okay,
six months or longer.
00:13:02.94\00:13:06.95
It's what we're praying.
00:13:06.98\00:13:08.32
I don't have the tig yet,
so, so something in the air.
00:13:08.35\00:13:10.05
So but, you know, and,
00:13:10.09\00:13:11.42
but this is
something where that...
00:13:11.45\00:13:12.85
According to
some of the statistics
00:13:12.89\00:13:14.39
that we found is
that, even just you raising
00:13:14.42\00:13:17.16
that funds to come
over and to give, you know,
00:13:17.19\00:13:19.59
six months of your
life for service to Christ,
00:13:19.63\00:13:22.50
that this, you've
out given, you know,
00:13:22.53\00:13:25.93
the most Christians
across North America.
00:13:25.97\00:13:29.80
Unfortunately,
Pastor Doug is correct.
00:13:29.84\00:13:33.14
The reality is that the
average North American Adventist
00:13:33.17\00:13:36.21
will give through the church
about $820 per year in Tithe
00:13:36.24\00:13:40.52
and around $400 for
the local church budget.
00:13:40.55\00:13:44.02
Yet, the same person
will give only $21 a year
00:13:44.05\00:13:47.39
for foreign missions.
00:13:47.42\00:13:49.22
That's less than $2 a month
or about 0.40 cents a week.
00:13:49.26\00:13:53.70
At this rate, it
will take a hundred years
00:13:53.73\00:13:56.00
of one person's average
giving to foreign missions
00:13:56.03\00:13:58.70
to equal the
amount Nicole has raised
00:13:58.73\00:14:00.57
for her half year of service.
00:14:00.60\00:14:02.54
And you raised $2,000
to get yourself over here
00:14:02.57\00:14:06.11
and now you're gonna see
00:14:06.14\00:14:07.54
what the rest of
the church has given
00:14:07.58\00:14:09.71
because that's the
stuff that we work with,
00:14:09.74\00:14:12.45
is that, you know, we
are at the receiving end
00:14:12.48\00:14:15.88
of the those mission offerings
00:14:15.92\00:14:17.65
and now you'll get to
see what that looks like.
00:14:17.69\00:14:21.12
I found that really astonishing.
00:14:21.16\00:14:23.12
Astonishing, but true.
00:14:23.16\00:14:24.93
In the 1930s, if
someone gave $10 in tithe,
00:14:24.96\00:14:28.33
they would give a
little less than $2
00:14:28.36\00:14:30.17
for the local church budget
00:14:30.20\00:14:31.53
but an additional $6
for foreign missions.
00:14:31.57\00:14:34.64
Today, for every
$10 given in tithe,
00:14:34.67\00:14:37.17
another $5 has given
for the local church budget,
00:14:37.21\00:14:40.11
but only 0.28 cents is
given to foreign missions.
00:14:40.14\00:14:44.15
Let's look at the numbers.
00:14:44.18\00:14:45.75
The average Adventist in
1933, gave about $311 for tithe
00:14:45.78\00:14:50.45
in today's money
and an additional $193
00:14:50.49\00:14:54.59
through the church
toward foreign mission.
00:14:54.62\00:14:56.83
In 2006, the standard
of living is much higher,
00:14:56.86\00:14:59.76
so we each give an average
of about $820 a year in tithe,
00:14:59.79\00:15:03.87
which is over
two and a half times
00:15:03.90\00:15:05.43
what was given in 1933.
00:15:05.47\00:15:07.44
But when it comes
to foreign missions,
00:15:07.47\00:15:09.00
only about $21
per year is given,
00:15:09.04\00:15:12.61
which is an 89% drop
from what it used to be.
00:15:12.64\00:15:17.15
Here's a graph
showing the overall trend
00:15:17.18\00:15:19.18
during the 73 year period.
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.35
You can see that
there is a huge increase
00:15:21.38\00:15:23.28
in tithe due to
the economic boom
00:15:23.32\00:15:25.15
of the 20th century,
00:15:25.19\00:15:27.16
giving to the local church
has also grown dramatically.
00:15:27.19\00:15:31.19
However, something
has gone dreadfully wrong
00:15:31.23\00:15:33.93
with foreign mission giving.
00:15:33.96\00:15:35.63
Instead of
growing with the economy,
00:15:35.66\00:15:37.57
it has steadily
shrunk to the point
00:15:37.60\00:15:39.40
where today our
foreign mission program
00:15:39.43\00:15:41.57
is statistically nearly extinct
00:15:41.60\00:15:44.44
and this downward
trend still continues.
00:15:44.47\00:15:48.81
Just how much money
are we talking about here,
00:15:48.84\00:15:51.41
between 1933 and 2006?
00:15:51.45\00:15:54.18
A total of $1.2 billion
was given to foreign missions,
00:15:54.22\00:15:57.99
while over $32
billion was given for tithe.
00:15:58.02\00:16:01.29
If giving for foreign
missions had continued
00:16:01.32\00:16:03.53
at the same percentage of
tithe that it was in 1933,
00:16:03.56\00:16:06.96
$9.9 billion would
have gone into the work.
00:16:07.00\00:16:10.80
What we're looking at here
is an $8.7 billion shortfall.
00:16:10.83\00:16:15.87
I found that really astonishing.
00:16:15.90\00:16:17.67
I thought people gave more.
00:16:17.71\00:16:19.51
Well, what can I say?
00:16:19.54\00:16:24.08
Thank you for giving.
00:16:24.11\00:16:26.08
I don't just know
people that's what I've been,
00:16:26.11\00:16:28.68
I've been taught
like in Sabbath school
00:16:28.72\00:16:30.55
and stuff that, that,
"Jesus is coming any day
00:16:30.59\00:16:34.02
because the word
has been preached
00:16:34.06\00:16:35.79
everywhere around the world."
00:16:35.82\00:16:38.13
You are here in
Thailand now, is that the case?
00:16:38.16\00:16:40.40
No. Why?
00:16:40.43\00:16:42.40
It's not because like
Pastor Doug was saying,
00:16:42.43\00:16:45.30
there's less than
1% has claimed Christ
00:16:45.33\00:16:51.54
as their Savior.
00:16:51.57\00:16:52.91
And I mean, there's point like,
00:16:52.94\00:16:57.28
there's plenty that...
00:16:57.31\00:16:58.88
I mean, sure
they've, there maybe people
00:16:58.91\00:17:01.45
that have heard of
Him but there's plenty
00:17:01.48\00:17:02.82
that haven't even gotten that.
00:17:02.85\00:17:05.35
How will they hear?
00:17:05.39\00:17:08.56
How will they know?
00:17:08.59\00:17:11.69
How will they ever find
the truth if we don't go?
00:17:11.73\00:17:17.90
How can we fear
God's love to show?
00:17:17.93\00:17:24.11
Jesus desires every
child His love to know
00:17:24.14\00:17:31.28
And around the
world in every tongue,
00:17:31.31\00:17:34.32
To every nation, tribe and clan
00:17:34.35\00:17:37.92
The Gospel must be
preached to every man.
00:17:37.95\00:17:40.06
Yes. Okay.
00:17:40.09\00:17:41.72
Okay. Ready?
00:17:41.76\00:17:43.66
Yes.
00:17:43.69\00:17:45.03
They say, they
never heard about Jesus.
00:18:00.18\00:18:02.01
Really? Yeah, they never.
00:18:02.04\00:18:03.45
Would you like to
know? Would you like to know?
00:18:07.75\00:18:09.35
How will they hear?
00:18:13.86\00:18:18.23
How will they know?
00:18:18.26\00:18:21.53
How will they
ever find the truth
00:18:21.56\00:18:24.67
If we don't go?
00:18:24.70\00:18:27.50
How can we fear
God's love to show?
00:18:27.54\00:18:33.64
Jesus desires every
child His love to know
00:18:33.68\00:18:38.11
Finished.
00:18:52.19\00:18:53.53
I asked him,
00:18:53.56\00:18:54.90
"have you ever
heard about Jesus?"
00:18:54.93\00:18:56.26
He said, "No, but
sometimes he saw like the poster
00:18:56.30\00:19:00.40
that they put on the tree."
00:19:00.44\00:19:02.67
Yeah, something like that.
00:19:02.70\00:19:04.21
I asked him that,
"So how do you think
00:19:04.24\00:19:07.64
when you saw that
00:19:07.68\00:19:09.34
and how do you feel
about Christianity?"
00:19:09.38\00:19:11.58
He say that, "Yeah, it's
good because every religion
00:19:11.61\00:19:14.38
teach the people
to be a good people."
00:19:14.42\00:19:16.82
Oh. Yeah.
00:19:16.85\00:19:18.22
Okay.
00:19:18.25\00:19:21.02
How will they hear
00:19:59.33\00:20:04.23
If we don't go?
00:20:04.27\00:20:08.30
How will they hear
00:20:08.34\00:20:10.91
If we don't go?
00:20:10.94\00:20:14.48
In the beautiful
country of Thailand,
00:21:19.21\00:21:21.24
99.3% of the
people do not consider
00:21:21.28\00:21:24.35
themselves
Christian, while less than 1%
00:21:24.38\00:21:27.12
are Christian of
any denomination.
00:21:27.15\00:21:29.52
96.2% are
classified as unreached,
00:21:29.55\00:21:32.99
which means that
they haven't been exposed
00:21:33.02\00:21:34.92
to the Gospel in any form.
00:21:34.96\00:21:36.86
So many people
are like satisfied
00:21:36.89\00:21:39.89
with the way our church is.
00:21:39.93\00:21:42.10
And that's, and
that's why I go back
00:21:42.13\00:21:44.07
to the 7 Eleven vision, is that,
00:21:44.10\00:21:46.50
we need to have
that kind of saturation
00:21:46.53\00:21:48.24
across the city
but that takes money.
00:21:48.27\00:21:51.94
I mean, real estate here is
the same price as, you know,
00:21:51.97\00:21:55.24
New York, you know, Seattle.
00:21:55.28\00:21:58.38
And so this is
where or it might even be
00:21:58.41\00:22:00.48
more expensive
but this is where to,
00:22:00.52\00:22:04.62
you know, we're
wrestling with those very issues
00:22:04.65\00:22:06.92
of how are we finding, you know,
00:22:06.96\00:22:08.92
ways to share the
gospel to people like Sue who,
00:22:08.96\00:22:11.83
you know, we were able to
go to her baptism yesterday.
00:22:11.86\00:22:14.90
Amen.
00:22:14.93\00:22:16.67
But it takes that community,
community based church plant
00:22:16.70\00:22:21.20
that's meeting needs
and then living the gospel
00:22:21.24\00:22:23.94
and then people are drawn
to how Christ changes lives.
00:22:23.97\00:22:27.58
And just like you
saw, and we witnessed
00:22:27.61\00:22:29.51
yesterday's Khun
Su and her daughter.
00:22:29.54\00:22:32.65
How long have you
been here, Nicole, now?
00:22:32.68\00:22:34.25
Now wait, Thursday,
Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
00:22:34.28\00:22:38.29
and so weekend,
three days, 10 days.
00:22:38.32\00:22:40.86
So 10 days. Ten days.
00:22:40.89\00:22:42.29
So how many
Christians have you seen?
00:22:42.32\00:22:45.39
Oh, wow.
00:22:45.43\00:22:48.23
Not very many.
00:22:48.26\00:22:49.60
Even the woman that was
on Sabbath was Buddhist.
00:22:49.63\00:22:53.03
Yeah, yeah, she was Buddhist.
00:22:53.07\00:22:54.54
We're at the temple and
she was doing her rounds.
00:22:54.57\00:22:56.17
She was definitely...
00:22:56.20\00:22:59.27
Wow.
00:22:59.31\00:23:00.68
So even though, if you're...
00:23:00.71\00:23:02.24
You're already
hanging out with Thai friends
00:23:02.28\00:23:03.95
and you didn't even know that.
00:23:03.98\00:23:05.31
I assumed she was Adventist
but apparently she wasn't.
00:23:05.35\00:23:07.68
Right.
00:23:07.72\00:23:09.05
And I think that,
that's the assumption
00:23:09.08\00:23:10.99
that many people make is
that, around the world that,
00:23:11.02\00:23:13.56
you know, they've, that,
everyone around the world
00:23:13.59\00:23:15.89
already had a
chance to hear the gospel.
00:23:15.92\00:23:18.19
And you're going to,
your eyes will be opened.
00:23:18.23\00:23:22.50
I find that
really hard to believe.
00:23:22.53\00:23:26.40
Yeah, that, at space.
00:23:26.43\00:23:29.74
The prison was
completely changed
00:23:36.38\00:23:39.21
into a safe place.
00:23:39.25\00:23:41.22
And many prisoners were reformed
00:23:44.25\00:23:47.19
and they were able to
go back into the society.
00:23:47.22\00:23:52.73
And what did He mean
by saying this kindness
00:23:52.76\00:23:56.06
to the prisoners?
00:23:56.10\00:23:57.43
This is such a high Sabbath
because another seven people
00:24:28.56\00:24:32.80
have made their
decision to follow Jesus Christ
00:24:32.83\00:24:35.84
and thanks to the
sacrifice and the teamwork
00:24:35.87\00:24:38.97
of the church
members across the city.
00:24:39.01\00:24:41.84
These are now seven people
who have accepted Jesus Christ.
00:24:41.88\00:24:46.55
I know there's a party
going on in heaven, right?
00:24:46.58\00:24:48.85
Let's walk today
is such a high Sabbath
00:24:55.69\00:24:58.03
and I just wanted to,
you know, find out, you know,
00:24:58.06\00:25:00.96
it was your, it
was your sacrifice
00:25:01.00\00:25:03.53
and your, you know,
God used you as a tool
00:25:03.57\00:25:06.03
to touch the
lives of these people.
00:25:06.07\00:25:08.44
And so what did you see
today or what feelings you have?
00:25:08.47\00:25:12.47
Oh, I'm really exited
to see seven people decided
00:25:12.51\00:25:18.41
to join the church and decided
to follow Jesus all the way
00:25:18.45\00:25:23.72
and we're so exited
about it, definitely.
00:25:23.75\00:25:26.96
It's not a sacrifice.
00:25:26.99\00:25:28.39
This is
something I enjoy doing it.
00:25:28.42\00:25:31.49
Praise God. Praise God. Yeah.
00:25:31.53\00:25:33.50
Run to the heart
00:25:37.67\00:25:40.34
That never changes
00:25:40.37\00:25:45.84
Run to the arms
00:25:45.87\00:25:48.51
That are always near
00:25:48.54\00:25:53.82
Run Lord to fall upon
00:25:53.85\00:25:57.82
Your saving grace
00:25:57.85\00:26:01.76
Your saving grace
00:26:01.79\00:26:03.63
Today at this church plant,
00:26:03.66\00:26:04.99
we've witnessed
an awesome scene,
00:26:05.03\00:26:06.76
where God is changing the lives
of these precious Thai people.
00:26:06.80\00:26:10.50
And if it wasn't for the
fact that this church plant
00:26:10.53\00:26:13.44
working in its local community,
these people would not have
00:26:13.47\00:26:16.47
had a chance to
meet Jesus Christ
00:26:16.50\00:26:18.34
as their Lord and Savior.
00:26:18.37\00:26:19.91
And so it was so
cool today as we saw that,
00:26:19.94\00:26:22.94
when the one woman, who'd
been, Thai lady was studying
00:26:22.98\00:26:26.55
the Bible with
their church planting team
00:26:26.58\00:26:29.32
and she attended these
meetings and then her husband
00:26:29.35\00:26:32.62
also who'd been
studying with them.
00:26:32.65\00:26:35.02
He also took his
stand with his wife
00:26:35.06\00:26:37.73
and that just broke my
heart that God's grace, even as,
00:26:37.76\00:26:41.70
with working and
poured out on this family.
00:26:41.73\00:26:44.53
And today, we got
to see this family
00:26:44.57\00:26:46.23
come to Jesus Christ and
take their stand together
00:26:46.27\00:26:49.10
and that just broke my heart.
00:26:49.14\00:26:50.94
I'm just so excited about
this fact that we had, what,
00:26:57.91\00:27:01.85
what 17 people
accept Jesus Christ.
00:27:01.88\00:27:04.89
But, Pastor Mok, you know,
00:27:04.92\00:27:07.66
this city has 12 million people.
00:27:07.69\00:27:10.43
Yes.
00:27:10.46\00:27:11.79
So is this a fruit of 17,
are you satisfied with this?
00:27:11.83\00:27:17.87
We're very happy
and exited about people,
00:27:17.90\00:27:21.20
you know, accepted Jesus
as their personal Savior.
00:27:21.24\00:27:25.07
We are happy.
00:27:25.11\00:27:26.44
But we look comparing
00:27:26.47\00:27:28.61
with the
population of this city,
00:27:28.64\00:27:30.38
of course, we are not satisfied,
00:27:30.41\00:27:32.15
we want as many of them come
in to the church as possible.
00:27:32.18\00:27:36.28
Yeah.
00:27:36.32\00:27:37.65
As you can see,
we've got a real problem.
00:28:13.62\00:28:15.52
And Bangkok is not
the only unique situation,
00:28:15.56\00:28:18.59
we've got metropolitan
centers all over the world,
00:28:18.63\00:28:21.73
more than 500 that have little
00:28:21.76\00:28:24.37
or no Seventh-day
Adventist presence.
00:28:24.40\00:28:27.07
God is calling
you to get involved.
00:28:27.10\00:28:29.24
Whatever skills you
have, they are needed.
00:28:29.27\00:28:32.67
God needs you.
00:28:32.71\00:28:34.54
Go to adventistmission.org
to learn more about
00:28:34.58\00:28:38.41
the possibilities
of mission activity
00:28:38.45\00:28:41.48
and your involvement.
00:28:41.52\00:28:43.72
I'll never forget
the people where I met
00:28:43.75\00:28:46.15
when I lived here in Bangkok.
00:28:46.19\00:28:47.72
From the street
sweepers, the taxi drivers,
00:28:47.76\00:28:50.23
the mall executives, all I
want all of them to meet Jesus.
00:28:50.26\00:28:54.53
And that's why I'm so
grateful for your sacrifice
00:28:54.56\00:28:57.53
for the mission
offering, because someday soon,
00:28:57.57\00:28:59.83
you'll meet them too.
00:28:59.87\00:29:01.24
Next week on "I Want This City,"
00:29:15.22\00:29:17.15
we take a look at the
literature that's available
00:29:17.19\00:29:19.49
for the entire
country of Thailand.
00:29:19.52\00:29:21.59
We don't have that book.
00:29:21.62\00:29:23.46
The truth is there,
00:29:23.49\00:29:25.09
but some of these
words I can't even read.
00:29:25.13\00:29:27.90
Watch "I Want
This City," Wednesday.
00:29:27.93\00:29:29.86